The Tigers will pay tribute to their dual premiership wingman, Brandon Ellis in the lead-up to Saturday afternoon’s clash with Gold Coast at the MCG.
Ellis will walk to the Punt Road end, where he’s bound to be warmly received by the Tiger Army.
He’ll then kick a ceremonial goal, while highlights of his Punt Road playing career will be shown on the MCG’s screens.
Richmond recruited Ellis with its first pick (No. 15 overall) in the 2011 AFL national draft from the Calder Cannons.
This is what long-time Richmond recruiting manager Francis Jackson had to say about the drafting of Ellis . . .
“We were very keen on Brandon. We felt that his physical attributes, his outstanding endurance and his kicking, which is also a weapon, would enable him to play some terrific footy,” Jackson said.
“Brandon had a really strong (under-18s) carnival. He played as a negating defender, which was a little bit of a different role for him.
“I remember in Perth, he played a fantastic game. He was very disciplined, very determined, and had a really strong concentration span.
“Brandon also had a really strong finals series with the (Calder) Cannons, playing a rebounding half-back role.
“We felt that he had a terrific work ethic, he saw the game unfold pretty well, and he’d be able to play a midfield role a little bit later on in his career.”
The talented teenager made his senior debut with the Tigers in the opening round of the 2012 season against Carlton at the MCG.
He maintained his place in team for the entire season, playing 21 games, averaging 15.7 disposals and receiving an AFL Rising Star nomination along the way.
Ellis quickly established himself as a permanent member of the Richmond line-up, showcasing his elite endurance and running power.
His best year at Tigerland, from a personal performance perspective, was in 2014 when he finished runner-up in the Jack Dyer Medal count.
That season, Ellis averaged an AFL career-high 26.1 disposals. He racked up 30 disposals or more seven times, with a best return of 36 touches against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium in Round 15.
The most disposals that Ellis recorded in a match throughout his time with the Tigers was 39, which he did twice – against Melbourne, Round 8, 2013 at the MCG and v Adelaide, Round 3, 2016, Marvel Stadium.
His reputation as a ball-magnet was highlighted in the timeline between Round 4, 2014 and Round 18, 2015 when he set a club record streak of 27 consecutive games with 20 or more disposals.
And Ellis’ impressive durability saw him play 111 games in-a-row over the course of five years – from Round 12, 2013 to Round 6, 2018.
Ellis was a valuable contributor for Richmond in its 2017 and 2019 premiership years. In 2017, he averaged 22.3 disposals per match and in 2019 his disposals average was 21.1.
The 2019 Grand Final triumph over Greater Western Sydney was Ellis’ last game as a Tiger. On the opening day of the 2019 AFL free agency period, he signed a five-year deal with Gold Coast.
Ellis had provided Richmond with fine service across eight seasons and 176 games.
Brandon Ellis Fact File
Date of birth: August 3, 1993
Height: 181cm
Playing weight: 82kg
Recruited by Richmond from: Calder Cannons
Guernsey number: No. 42 and No. 5
AFL debut: Round 1, 2012 v Carlton, MCG
Games (2012-2019): 176
Goals: 58
Honours: Dual Richmond premiership player (2017, 2019)
